Chapter 30
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 030
Chapter Title: The Mage and the Sinner (5)
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Back at the mansion with Bear, Jade immediately suggested proceeding with the knighting ceremony.
He wanted to make him a real knight.
Honestly, it was a completely unexpected development.
I hadn't ruled it out entirely, but I never imagined Jade would go this far for Bear.
In any case, the knighting ceremony was scheduled.
The venue was a secluded room in the mansion, and I was the only spectator—it was incredibly modest.
Thud thud.
Right after the knighting ceremony began.
Jade stepped forward, sword gripped in his right hand.
The leather wrapping the hilt was glossy and well-worn, suggesting it was his actual weapon, not some ceremonial blade.
As he moved first, Bear advanced from where he'd been waiting nearby and stood before him.
Then he dropped to his right knee.
"In the name of Jade, I knight thee, Bear. Mayest thou shine with honor."
"I shall shine with honor."
Jade spoke, and Bear echoed him.
"Mayest thou offer thy full loyalty."
"I shall offer my full loyalty."
"Mayest thou protect the weak."
"I shall protect the weak."
"Mayest thou punish the wicked."
"I shall punish the wicked."
As I listened to Bear's oaths, I pondered the meaning behind this knighting ceremony.
In truth, a knight wasn't nobility.
It was a title tied to military service, not rank.
Thus, anyone could become a knight.
Even someone just padding up with quilted armor and throwing a chainmail hauberk over it would be called a knight by the masses.
But there was a world of difference between that and receiving proper investiture from someone with authority.
'This knighting ceremony is essentially borrowing the authority of the name Jade.'
Who knighted you?
That determined a knight's caliber.
Those without investiture were shunned by other knights at best and scorned by nobles at worst.
But one properly invested? At least they'd get a chance at conversation.
It was a bit regrettable that it came from a knight rather than a noble, but for now, this was the best option.
'Jade must really value Bear.'
Once the ceremony ended, Bear could operate backed by Jade's authority.
He wasn't famous, but he was a knight who'd formally received investiture under a noble's oversight.
In other words, just invoking Jade's name would give him the bare minimum face to show in public.
If Bear were a scoundrel, he'd peddle Jade's name everywhere and tarnish his honor.
The fact that Jade took that risk spoke volumes about how much he trusted Bear.
'Huh? Already over?'
While I mulled over the essence of the ceremony, it was already drawing to a close.
"From this moment, Bear becomes a knight. Guard the oaths thou hast sworn today with thy life's blood."
"I shall guard the oaths I swore today with my life's blood."
Jade gave a firm nod at the resolute reply, then lightly tapped Bear's crown once with the sword in his right hand.
That was it.
About five minutes?
Simpler than I'd expected.
"Here, a gift from me."
After the ceremony concluded.
Jade handed Bear a sword.
Not the one he'd been holding, but one he'd prepared separately, sheathed and all.
"This is..."
"I set it aside to give to one of my children if they followed in my footsteps as a knight. Never thought it'd find an owner in my lifetime, but I'm glad it has—even like this."
"I'm not sure I deserve something like this."
"Take it. No one else was going to use it anyway."
"Thank you, Sir Jade."
Bear hesitated a moment before accepting the sword.
It was a heartwarming scene.
With the sword in hand, all he needed was armor to look the part of a knight.
'Asking for armor too would be pushing it.'
After knighting him and gifting a sword, demanding armor on top would be shameless.
Besides, what I wanted was chainmail.
A garment forged by hand-linking thousands of rings—terribly expensive.
At least the price of a horse.
Beyond a common farmer's wildest dreams.
'No helping it. I'll have to acquire armor gradually.'
Truth be told, even the sword was a major sacrifice for Jade.
Not quite as costly as chainmail, but still hugely expensive.
Famed blades cost far more.
And swords symbolized status, elevating one's social standing just by possession.
"Sir Jade, can Bear handle the work of thirty able-bodied men? I'm curious as conscription officer."
Shaking off idle thoughts, I tossed a joke at Jade.
To lighten the solemn mood.
"More than enough."
Jade replied without hesitation.
His eyes held no flicker of doubt.
I spent a week at Jade's mansion, shaking off the accumulated fatigue.
Bear focused on recovering too.
Having been bound to the pillory in the square for days, his condition wasn't normal either.
And on the eighth day since arriving in Big Plain.
We finally finished preparing to depart the village.
"You could rest a bit longer before going."
Jade said as he saw us off.
Thick reluctance showed on his face.
We'd shared all sorts of conversations over the week, with me as his companion—probably sad to see me leave.
It meant he'd enjoyed our talks that much.
Of course, I'd enjoyed them too.
Jade knew a lot.
Thanks to him, I gathered various info and even decided on a destination.
"Resting too long isn't good. Better to move before motivation fades."
"True enough. Recklessness is youth's privilege. Watching you young folk head into adventure takes me back to my own younger days."
Jade's gaze lost focus.
As if staring at some point in the past.
Finishing that brief reminiscence, he met my eyes squarely.
"Opportunity hides in crisis. I wish you luck and victory."
"Thank you."
With that, I turned away.
The bundle slung over my shoulder like a crossbag felt heavy.
Inside: rations, blankets, camping gear.
All courtesy of Jade.
He'd aided us generously.
I couldn't help feeling deep gratitude.
Ten minutes after leaving Big Plain.
We pressed on in silence.
Bear wasn't the talkative type, and I had things to think about, so I kept quiet too.
Thus, only our footsteps echoed.
'These grimoires haven't changed a bit.'
What occupied my mind now were the existing grimoires.
"No time to hesitate! Time marches on while you dawdle! Light a fire right now and thrust your upper body into it!"
The Little Flame Grimoire, as before, urged me to sense fire with my heart.
"Save eighty-nine souls, slay eighty-six."
The Underground Guide Grimoire clung stubbornly to its demands.
Both were too bullheaded to compromise, so one of us had to yield—and it'd be me.
For now, the Little Flame Grimoire remained on hold.
No way I could manage it with my mana reserves.
That left the Underground Guide Grimoire.
This one offered some hope.
'Must be crediting me for helping those refugees and saving Bear.'
Saved ten refugees from bandits, sent one thief and three night visitors to the afterlife.
Freed Bear from the pillory too.
And this was the result.
Plus, heading east meant high chances of life-or-death encounters, so I might fulfill its demands faster than expected.
'Ah, time to introduce Gilbert too.'
Mid-grimoire check.
The thought struck me.
Bear didn't know about Gilbert yet.
Couldn't hide him forever, so best to reveal his identity ASAP.
The longer I delayed, the greater Bear's sense of betrayal.
Besides, I was curious.
What reaction would Bear have seeing Gilbert?
'He won't just swing at me out of nowhere, right?'
Witnessing Gloria's Thought Body Summon had clued Bear in that I was a necromancer.
But knowing and seeing me command undead firsthand were different beasts.
I hoped he wouldn't be disappointed in me.
"Bear."
"Yes, Master Heros."
I called, and he answered steadily.
Solid as ever.
I liked that.
But would he stay that way after seeing Gilbert?
Probably a shock.
"Truth is, we have one more companion. Or rather, one more."
Right after I said that.
Rustling started from the roadside brush.
Bear swiftly blocked my front, right hand clamping the sword hilt on his belt.
"Don't worry. He's friendly."
My words barely ended when Gilbert emerged.
Long time no see.
While I'd stayed in Big Plain, he'd hidden in the woods waiting for me.
"A skeleton."
"Yeah. My master's familiar originally, but somehow it ended up under my command."
"I see."
"Not surprised?"
"Should I be?"
He threw the question back at me.
Unexpected reaction.
"Most would be. Necromancers and undead have a bad rep."
"I've seen plenty of corpses before. A moving one isn't that shocking."
"Ah, got it."
Thank goodness—Bear's attitude toward me didn't shift after seeing Gilbert.
He remained loyal.
Satisfying outcome.
As I sighed in relief, Bear eyed Gilbert intently.
"Hm..."
"Something wrong?"
"Observing the skeleton. Doesn't seem like an ordinary man in life."
Fair enough—Gilbert was fairly tall.
A bit shorter than Bear, but that was just bones.
If alive and fleshed out, their eye levels would match.
"My master said Gilbert was a high-caliber knight in life. Even called him a hero."
"Indeed, a hero's remains are extraordinary. The aura's impressive even with just bones left."
Really?
Honestly, no clue.
To me, it was just a skeleton.
Maybe my senses weren't as sharp as Bear's.
In any case, Gilbert introduction complete.
I had him hide back in the brush.
Too conspicuous to travel with by day.
"Can't shorten the trip to our destination?"
As I watched Gilbert vanish into the woods, I asked Bear.
Quick reply.
"No, sir. Even a week is tight."
Our next stop was Rabbit Farm village in the east.
From talks with Jade, I learned a heretical cult called the Pyeonbok Church had raided it.
He mentioned a mage there.
'Please have a grimoire. No, several.'
I desperately hoped that unknown mage possessed grimoires—multiple ones.